Post by Amirit on Jun 1, 2017 20:15:39 GMT

Guess, where Chris Avellone suddenly appeared!

Pathfinder is one of the most popular pen-and-paper fantasy roleplaying games. It builds on more than 10 years of system development and had the largest open playtest in the history of tabletop gaming with the goal of creating an unparalleled fantasy roleplaying experience.

The upcoming RPG for PCs will be the first that uses the Pathfinder system, itself a decade-old take on Dungeons & Dragons‘ fantastic 3.5 Edition rules, and accomplished RPG writer Chris Avellone (Planescape: Torment, Pillars of Eternity, Torment: Tides of Numenera) is in charge of the story.

Developers Owlcat Games today announced the upcoming isometric RPG, also boasting that they’ve booked the narrative design services of Chris ‘The Human Stretch Goal’ Avellone. The game will visit the Stolen Lands wilds of the RPG setting for your usual questing duties, with a dash of kingdom-building.

The upcoming RPG for PCs will be the first that uses the Pathfinder system, itself a decade-old take on Dungeons & Dragons‘ fantastic 3.5 Edition rules, and accomplished RPG writer Chris Avellone (Planescape: Torment, Pillars of Eternity, Torment: Tides of Numenera) is in charge of the story.

Developers Owlcat Games today announced the upcoming isometric RPG, also boasting that they’ve booked the narrative design services of Chris ‘The Human Stretch Goal’ Avellone. The game will visit the Stolen Lands wilds of the RPG setting for your usual questing duties, with a dash of kingdom-building.

I did click on the link, and obviously I read your post, I was still rather vague on details after that. But I suppose this is still in early stages, so that's to be expected. We'll see.

We sure will. I have my doubts about the company (though I like Allods), but Avellone's name and the fact that they have money already and that kickstarter is only to add something extra kind of reassuring.

Post by AnDromedary on Jun 2, 2017 16:50:06 GMT

Dam, I am not a big fan of these isometric PnP adapted RPGs but I do love Chris Avellone's stories. Wish he'd participate in a project with more "new generation" gameplay again, like he did in Alpha Protocol.

Post by Iakus on Jun 10, 2017 15:30:01 GMT

Due to her flawless, almost supernatural beauty, Valerie has been at the center of everyone's attention, even when she was still a child. Born into a noble Brevic family, the young girl soon became a shining star of high society. She quickly had to learn to resist the unwanted advances of her admirers, using cold arrogance and impeccable, distant manners as an impenetrable shield. Her father had chosen a great destiny for Valerie: she was supposed to become a paladin of Shelyn. However, the teachings of obedience and humbleness before the goddess of beauty and love appeared to be something that young Valerie wasn't too susceptible to - unlike the lessons of martial arts, which she mastered almost to perfection. The life of Valerie had changed dramatically when an act of blasphemy made her future path as Shelyn's paladin impossible. Having rejected the grace of the goddess, she left high society to take her fate into her own hands.

Today Valerie is not some nobleman's pampered daughter. Instead, she has become a seasoned mercenary, who has lived through dozens of battles under the banners of Swordlords. Having her gorgeous hair cut off and her silk dresses replaced by steel armor, she has broken with her past without hesitation. But is the past ready to stay behind the proud and confident mercenary? Even the kindest of gods don't take well to blasphemy, and the revenge of Shelyn may not only be harsh, but also incredibly poetic.

For those who appreciate her military talents, Valerie will become a reliable defender in every possible challenge. In battle, she uses a bastard sword and a tower shield. Valerie prefers full plate armor and defensive tactics: she waits patiently until the enemy reveals an opening, and only then she strikes with all her might.

Valerie is a natural-born leader, who can inspire and rally people. If she gets an important role in the Kingdom governance, she can show her talents not only in state defense but also in the field of diplomacy. Although she once has rejected the path of a lady in high society, Valerie still knows how to behave in aristocratic circles and how to save face in conflict situations. Though she may prefer the way of the blade, if necessary, Valerie can actively participate in diplomatic maneuvers as well as in straightforward battles.

Post by Iakus on Jun 10, 2017 18:45:00 GMT

They said ten classes, and Pathfinder operates largely the same as D&D 3.5, So I guess the base classes:

Does this mean Vancian magic? I truly detest this aspect of D&D.

In most cases, yes.

However, Bards and Sorcerers operate differently. They select the spells they want to "know" and are locked into them. They don't have to prepare those spells in advance, but they limited to X number of spells they can cast per level per day. It's actually more akin to how Pillars of Eternity handled spellcasting.

Post by Iakus on Jun 10, 2017 21:13:58 GMT

However, Bards and Sorcerers operate differently. They select the spells they want to "know" and are locked into them. They don't have to prepare those spells in advance, but they limited to X number of spells they can cast per level per day. It's actually more akin to how Pillars of Eternity handled spellcasting.

I actually quite enjoyed playing sorcerers.

I don't like the idea of spells per day either. I prefer the flexibility of something like a Mana pool, which also makes more sense to me than the concept of "spells per day".

The idea of a set amount of energy that can be used in different ways, is simply more logical, and not as contrived and overcomplicated as the other limitations.

Well, the bard and sorcerer method is sorta like that. They call it "spontaneous casting". Let's say a sorcerer knows two third level spells: Fireball and Haste. And has four third level spell slots at that level. Those slots could be used to cast Fireball four times that day, Fireball twice and Haste twice, Fireball three times and Haste once, or even lower level spells improved via Metamagic feats, as the sorcerer chooses "spontaneously". One could even use higher level slots to cast lower level spells without metamagic, though that's not very efficient as you gain nothing more from it besides the ability to cast those spells at the expense of potentially more powerful magic.

Post by Iakus on Jun 10, 2017 21:39:45 GMT

Well, the bard and sorcerer method is sorta like that. They call it "spontaneous casting". Let's say a sorcerer knows two third level spells: Fireball and Haste. And has four third level spell slots at that level. Those slots could be used to cast Fireball four times that day, Fireball twice and Haste twice, Fireball three times and Haste once, or even lower level spells improved via Metamagic feats, as the sorcerer chooses "spontaneously". One could even use higher level slots to cast lower level spells without metamagic, though that's not very efficient as you gain nothing more from it besides the ability to cast those spells at the expense of potentially more powerful magic.

I doubt mechanics like this are going to survive the adaptation into a video game, we certainly didn't have anything similar in any CRPG that used a similar system.

And I still dislike it, needlessly overcomplicated and contrived.

I mean, I'll still buy the game, probably. Do they have casters like Warlocks / Psions / Cyphers by any chance?

Edit: I saw that they have a number of interesting classes there, but if they stick in the adaptation only to core classes, I doubt we'll see the more exotic ones.

Well, like I said, it seems similar to how Pillars of Eternity handled magic (barring Cyphers and Chanters). "Here are your Level X spells, and here are your Level X spell slots. Spend them how you like"

And I believe they did say other classes may be introduced as stretch goals.

Edit: I should also point out that 0-level spells (cantrips) are NOT expended when cast. They can be used as often as you like.

Post by Iakus on Jun 14, 2017 20:27:36 GMT

It is a feature, which we feel is often oversimplified in computer RPGs. In most of them, resting in the wilderness is as simple as hitting the snooze button. Some party members might be injured or they complain about feeling tired, so you click the camp button and everyone is rested a second later. Worst case scenario, you may get ambushed, so you finish a quick battle and try resting again until you succeed. If you're familiar with tabletop role playing, then you'll agree that most good GMs won't let you off so easily. If you're in dangerous territory, then resting for the night will require a certain amount of preparation, such as appointing guards. Sadly, this is a rare feature in computer RPGs. In Pathfinder: Kingmaker we want camping to be more than just a button.

You're miles away from the nearest inn. There are monsters and bandits lurking everywhere. Sure, your party could try dropping everything right there and take a nap, though they may as well put up a big sign, saying, "We're over here! Please murder us and take our stuff!" The wiser option is to set up a camp. But you can't rest on an empty stomach. You've been adventuring for days and provisions are running low. Why not choose for one of your companions to be the designated hunter for the night? If they're skilled enough, they will refill your packs to keep you going for a few extra days. But beware - dinner fights back in the Stolen Lands and your hunter may get chased all the way back to the camp by a raging monster!

You have to select a place to rest carefully! If you pick a spot, which is too close to monsters, they will decide to investigate and attack your camp. In a dungeon you will have to get rid of at least some of its inhabitants, or they will never allow you to rest. It's always a good idea to assign a companion or two for guard duty. They will watch over the camp while the rest of the party sleeps. They can spot an impending ambush when they pass the required perception checks and warn the rest of the group to help them prepare. In case of a surprise attack, your unprepared party members may not always fight at their full strength. For instance your fighter may step into the fray wearing only his undergarments, because there is just not enough time to get dressed. Have you ever tried to sleep in a full suit of plate armor? Or if your guards fell asleep, monsters can gain a surprise round against your sleeping party - and that is an experience you'll want to avoid! There will be several special maps and events for the encounters while camping, be it a monster that is chasing your hunter, or travelers that decided to join you by the campfire.Your camp is also a great place for your party to talk and bond. One of your companions may have been badly injured in a fight with an angry troll earlier. Perhaps they're feeling a little under the weather. Or maybe you have made an amazing discovery on your journey today? Or some information they remembered from the stories about this region? Your companions will want to talk about recent events, about what's they've seen and done in the Stolen Lands. You can take the time and listen to how they feel about your adventure together. We want this to be a fun, meaningful part of the game. Few other games ever do anything like this - Darkest Dungeon or the Realms of Arkania trilogy come to mind. We always loved it when games put a little extra thought into their camping system, which is why we're doing it this way for Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Post by Kaazmiin on Jun 17, 2017 8:32:13 GMT

The more I read and hear about this, the more excited I get. For anyone who's interested in more information, you can find an insanely detailed post-AMA compilation of everything we know so far right here (kudos to Stratagemini on the official Paizo forums for all the hard work).

Post by Iakus on Jun 17, 2017 17:21:35 GMT

Ekundayo, or Ekun for friends, isn't too talkative. Even after earning his trust, one would need a lot of patience to learn something about his past. An experienced Ranger, a former mercenary, a devout worshipper of the dwarven god Torag... A soul on the verge of despair. When you meet him, he has nothing left to lose and only hopes to live long enough for a bloody revenge. Will you let his hatred consume him — or will you give him a new hope, a new place in life, a new home to fight for?

Ekun's family came from the South, from the hot deserts of Thuvia, but he's never seen the land of his ancestors. His true motherland is Absolom — the great city in the center of the world, where one can meet people of every known nation, every religion, and every creed. After the death of his parents, he went to seek his fortune in the northern continent of Avistan, where he traveled back and forth before ending up in the turbulent Stolen Lands.

In battle, Ekundayo relies on his trusty bow, sending death from afar, but he also can protect himself in close combat, armed with a sword. He has no need for heavy armor but handles shields well. A faithful hound accompanies him, always ready to help.

Ekun is a man of action, not a scheming diplomat. Should you decide to rely on his help in ruling the kingdom, you will benefit from his physical abilities and combat skills. He can do well protecting you and your people – or enforcing your orders, even the unpopular ones.

Post by carefull on Jun 18, 2017 17:19:51 GMT

Pathfinder is one of the most popular pen-and-paper fantasy roleplaying games. It builds on more than 10 years of system development and had the largest open playtest in the history of tabletop gaming with the goal of creating an unparalleled fantasy roleplaying experience.

Post by Iakus on Jun 18, 2017 17:23:00 GMT

Pathfinder is one of the most popular pen-and-paper fantasy roleplaying games. It builds on more than 10 years of system development and had the largest open playtest in the history of tabletop gaming with the goal of creating an unparalleled fantasy roleplaying experience.

Post by carefull on Jun 18, 2017 22:29:55 GMT

Isometric... eww... For now, not interested, unless most of the game takes place in the African/Arabic regions mentioned in the setting description. The length of the game is way too long, and companion description so far not particularly inspiring, since I am guessing romance for females is a "blonde male #1 or blonde male #2". Will take a look in another year or two when more details are available.